PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Broncos long-snapper Lonie Paxton is staying back from the team’s playoff game Saturday against his former New England Patriots to help care for his wife Meghan, who is having complications in her pregnancy with twins.

Paxton wanted to reach out to Broncos fans after he and Meghan have been overwhelmed with well-wishers.

“He really appreciates the tremendous outpouring of support out there,” said Paul Sheehy, Paxton’s Littleton-based agent.

Tim Tebow, the center of attention during the NFL playoffs, stretches during practice on Wednesday.

Every day this week, we’ve run a new online Broncos poll in The Denver Post. We’ve asked fans about strategy, history and popularity. It’s been fascinating to watch.

The votes are in and the fans have spoken. Following is a review of the polls — and my interpretation of the results:

• Following the Broncos’ overtime stunner over the Steelers, we asked who was the game’s MVP? Champ Bailey was a candidate, as was Demaryius Thomas who had 204 yards receiving and caught the game-winning 80-yard touchdown.

But the clear winner was Tim Tebow. He garnered 64.3 percent of the 25,470 votes cast. This was a no-brainer, a softball, and the fans knocked it out of the park. After three bad games, Tebow got up off the mat, played a terrific game and threw the knockout punch that decked the mighty Steelers.

It’s not secret the Broncos’ read-option offense presents a unique challenge to opposing defenses. If you go by what Bill Belichick has said this week, the Patriots will face the same conundrum.

See what he had to say Thursday from the Pats’ headquarters, as New England tried to counter Tim Tebow and crew. And The Denver Post’s Lindsay Jones goes through what Denver needs to do to counter New England’s counter:

FOXBOROUGH, MASS. — After winning a national championship for the University of Florida in 2008, quarterback Tim Tebow and linebacker Brandon Spikes could have bolted for the NFL.

Instead, they decided to return together for one more year in Gainesville.

On Saturday, they’ll face each other as opponents for the first time. Spikes, a second-round pick by New England in 2010, was injured and unable to play when the Patriots visited Denver in December.

“All the spring practices we had, we had some fun going against each other. You’d like him on your team but it will still be fun going against him,” Tebow said Tuesday afternoon on a conference call with reporters in Massachusetts. He’s a great player and I wish him nothing but the best. I look forward to giving him a hug.”

FOXBOROUGH, Mass — By the way Patriots coach Bill Belichick talked about the Broncos Tuesday morning, you’d have thought it was Denver who won the last meeting between the two teams in December.

It was classic Belichick here at Gillette Stadium, with nothing but overwhelming praise for the upcoming opponent. In this case, that’s the Broncos, a team the Patriots beat 41-23 on Dec. 18 in Denver.

“They were good when we played them before. They’re still good,” Belichick said. There are a lot of things they are doing better.”

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher led his team to a victory over Seattle in Super Bowl XL.

Are you wondering what former Steelers coach Bill Cowher thinks about the Broncos’ overtime shocker over the Steelers on Sunday? Curious what Cowher thinks about Tim Tebow? Want some real insight into the NFL playoff?

Now’s your chance to ask Cowher a question. The longtime coach, now an NFL analyst for CBS Sports, has agreed to answer your questions in the next edition of The Denver Post’s “Fan Mail” feature.

Cowher, in case you have forgotten, led the 2005 Steelers to their first Super Bowl title in 26 years. He coached 15 years in Pittsburgh, during which time Cowher’s Steelers teams earned 10 post-season berths, captured eight division titles, advanced to six AFC Championship games and played in two Super Bowls.

Little wonder that his name comes up every time an NFL head coaching job opens. Yet, for now, Cowher is content as an analyst. And he’s carved out a little time to share his views with you.

Matt Prater kicks a 38-yard field goal against the Kansas City Chiefs last weekend in Denver.

The Denver Post would be remiss, then, if it didn’t point out the fairly new NFL overtime rules that will be in effect when the Broncos meet the Pittsburgh Steelers in a first-round AFC playoff game Sunday at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

Specifically worth noting is a Prater field goal in overtime might not be enough for the Broncos if he converts off the first possession. Say it’s tied, 17-17 after regulation. The Broncos win the overtime coin flip, take the ball, and their drive finishes in a Prater field goal.

Pittsburgh Steelers fans wave their Terrible Towels as the Steelers face the Denver Broncos during an NFL game in Denver in November 2009.

Speaking Wednesday during teleconferences with Denver media covering the Broncos, Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said they continue to be amazed by how many Steelers fans show up in opposing stadiums — perhaps like Sunday at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

“It’s awesome,” Roethlisberger said. “I think it kind of blows most people away. When you’re on the road and you have guys on other teams that aren’t used to seeing that.

“All of a sudden, they see the Steelers fans come in and they’re like, ‘Holy cow. What’s going on?’ It’s a pretty neat feeling.”

Denver Broncos defenders D.J. Williams, left, and Robert Ayers pull down Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback Dennis Dixon during a preseason game in 2010.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he is glad that he has back-up quarterback Dennis Dixon to imitate the Broncos’ Tim Tebow in practice this week.

Dixon played an option-like offense at Oregon and, ironically, was thought to be the leading Heisman candidate in 2007, the year Tebow won it, until Dixon suffered a knee injury late in the season.

“We prepare for (the option) during the off-season,” Tomlin said Wednesday, when asked about Tebow. “because in the National Football League we understand where this game could have gone and could go. We’ve been looking at it now for the last several years.

A Steelers fan, among many, showed up in 2010 when the Steelers played a preseason game in Denver against the Broncos.

Broncos coach John Fox coached the Steelers defensive secondary for three seasons (1989-91) and knows how their fans can take over an opponent’s stadium.

He does not want that to happen on Sunday for the playoff game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

“We’ve got unique fans here (in Denver),” Fox said Monday. “I would encourage all of them to keep their seats, so to speak, and not sell them to Pittsburgh fans, so our stadium remains as active and loud as it’s been — more blue and orange, as opposed to yellow and gold.”

By virtue of the San Diego Chargers beating the Oakland Raiders, the Broncos backed into the playoffs Sunday despite their loss to the Chiefs. Tiebreakers over the Chargers and Raiders made them AFC West champions:

What: Wild-card playoff game

Opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

Time: 2:30 p.m., Sunday

Where: Sports Authority Field at Mile High

Tickets: Single-game tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Tickets will be available at all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 1-800-745-3000 or by visiting ticketmaster.com. Tickets will not be available at the Broncos ticket office until Tuesday, Jan. 3, if any remain. Tickets range from $45-$130 for reserved seats and $175-$375 for club seats. There is a limit of eight (8) tickets per household.

During interviews following Wednesday’s two-hour Broncos practice, veteran running back Willis McGahee was asked how quarterback Tim Tebow will handle the pressure of Sunday’s game against Kansas City. That could be a make-or-break game for the Denver’s playoff chances.

McGahee said Tebow will do just fine.

“I don’t think he worries about pressure,” McGahee said. “He went to (the University of) Florida. He’s a Florida boy, I’m a Florida boy (Miami native, University of Miami). Pressure don’t bother us.

Veteran cornerback Champ Bailey commented Wednesday after practice about the Broncos’ young defense coming up this year against three marquee quarterbacks: Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, Detroit’s Matthew Stafford and last weekend versus New England’s Tom Brady.

Not only are the Broncos young on defense, they’re in their first year under the guidance of defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. “We’ve got to play good against the good ones; We didn’t,” Bailey said.

“Those are three very good quarterbacks. They’re probably all Pro Bowl quarterbacks this year. We’ve got to show up when we play against quarterbacks like that. I mean, week in and week out, you see ’em.

“In order to win in the playoffs, you’re going to see that every week. So we have to play better.”

Broncos coach John Fox said earlier this week that Sunday’s Broncos vs. Patriots game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High counts just the same as any other game.

Avoiding the cliche, Broncos receiver Eric Decker said what everybody is thinking — it’s an important game for two teams on top of their respective AFC divisions and hoping to stay there.

“It would be a huge win for us at this point of our season, because (the Patriots) are a tested team,” Decker said. “They’ve been to the playoffs multiple times, they’re playing well this year, and their coach (Bill Belichick) is one of the best.

“We have a big challenge ahead of us, and I think what we’re focused on right now is ourselves and making sure we get better during practice, so we can go out there and compete and give ourselves a chance to win.”

Kyle Orton has one year left on his Broncos contract. Is that enough time to reach the playoffs?

The Denver Post on Thursday will release a 16-page Broncos and NFL preview, breaking down team needs and John Elway’s vision for where the team will head. Find it in a special print section and online at denverpost.com/broncos.

The Chargers were one of the most active teams in free agency, signing 13 veteran players. Before the 2010 season, the Chargers signed only five veteran free agents. If they get a contribution from safety Bob Sanders (age 30) and linebacker Takeo Spikes (34), the Chargers will return to their familiar perch atop the division. Prediction: 10-6

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs took a slow, steady approach to training camp this year. That strategy will be beneficial if they stay healthier than their AFC brethren. The bigger issue for the defending division champions is the constant rumblings that coach Todd Haley and general manager Scott Pioli are butting heads — a sure recipe for failure over the long haul. Prediction: 8-8

DALLAS — Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby said Tuesday he’s already “visualized” making the game-winning kick in Sunday’s Super Bowl, just in case he’s actually asked to make the game-winning kick in the championship game.

“You want that to happen,” Crosby said. “You want to be able to have those kind of kicks in this kind of game. This is the pinnacle of where you can be as a player, of where the organization can go as a team.”

The Super Bowl hasn’t come down to a kicker very often, but there are some of the more memorable plays in the game’s history on the list.

Come Super Bowl Sunday, after the pregame hype and analysis is over and the game finally begins, Joe Buck’s deep, commanding voice will steer viewers through the Packers-Steelers showdown.

But before Buck calls Super Bowl XLV, you have a chance to ask him a question in the latest installment of The Denver Post’s “Fan Mail” feature.

Buck, the son of legendary St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck, has been Fox’s lead NFL player-caller since 2002. His first Super Bowl was on Feb. 6, 2005 when the Patriots beat the Eagles for their third championship in four years.

He’s also been Fox’s main baseball play-by-play voice since 1996.

So ask away! Ask Buck about his father’s influence on his life and career. Ask him about working the NFL booth with Troy Aikman, or working the baseball booth with Tim McCarver. Ask him about interviewing President Obama during the 2009 All-Star Game. Ask for this take on the state of sports.

Send your questions in an email to fanmail@denverpost.com. Be sure and include your first name and where you are from. Questions will be accepted through Thursday.

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.